Staff Report

Riverview United Methodist Church will be celebrating 160 years of ministry on Saturday, March 25 beginning at 4:30 p.m. The Educational buildings and Youth building will be open for self-guided tours. On Sunday, March 26, the celebration will continue at 9:30 a.m. for fellowship followed by a worship service at 10:30 a.m. and a covered dish dinner at 12:30 p.m. The weekend will feature musical ministries from the past and the present, returning guest pastors and just celebrating the love of Jesus at Riverview United Methodist Church. The church is located at 8002 U.S. Hwy 301 S. in Riverview - the corner of 301 S. and Riverview Dr.

Riverview United Methodist Church has gone through name changes, location changes, growth spurts and growing pains. The church doors remain open after 160 years of ministry inside and outside its walls and a promising future ahead.

The church was born in 1846 as a log cabin with four families as its founding members. The first church was erected by Benjamin Moody, who donated land with a grove of Pecan trees on the south side of the Alafia River, with help from George Simmons. The community at that time was known as Peru, until 1894 when it became known as Riverview. Four years later in 1850, a second church was erected as the first church became the home of Reverend L.G. Lesley. This new building was named Lesley Chapel. In 1880, Lesley Chapel became a part of the Methodist Episcopal Conference and was the beginning of over 70 pastors coming to minister to the community at Riverview United Methodist Church. The third church was built on the north side of the Alafia River and lasted five years before succumbing to a windstorm. The fourth church was built in 1900 and sported a foot- pumped organ, wooden benches and carbide gas lights. By 1960, the current church sanctuary was built and is still ministering today under the guidance of Pastor Tom Bridges.